Agenda item

To receive a presentation by Ynys Môn Citizens Advice.

The Chair introduced Cara Jones, Project Manager and Energy Supervisor, and Danielle Owen from Môn Citizens Advice and invited them to provide an overview of the services provided by the organisation.

Cara Jones outlined the work of Môn Citizens Advice in providing free, confidential, and impartial advice to people regarding their rights and entitlements. The organisation aims to help people whatever their problems and to improve policies and practices that affect people’s lives. Advice on a wide range of issues is provided including on benefits, debt, budgeting, housing, employment, community care and migration, many of which are linked to poverty, to poverty prevention and to helping people improve their circumstances. Although Môn Citizens Advice is available to everyone it recognises that some groups and communities are more at risk of poverty than others and focuses its efforts in these areas. Môn Citizens Advice’s priority groups include carers and people with long-term disability and health issues including mental health, addictions, learning difficulties and autism. The organisation also helps children and young people, military veterans, homeless people, older people, and victims of domestic abuse. The Council contributes towards the organisation’s core funding which is essential to Môn Citizens Advice as a charity. Cara Jones also referred to other funding contributions which Môn Citizens Advice has received for specific work and projects. She explained the staff structure and governance arrangements overseen by a Board of Trustees which also sets the organisation’s strategic direction. Môn Citizens Advice works in partnership with many organisations on a number of projects including the Council with which it collaborates in several areas including on multi-disciplinary groups such as the Tackling Poverty group. In 2023/24 Môn Citizens Advice helped 2,069 clients with 15,680 issues across 19,532 activities. In the region of £1.734m of benefits and entitlements was realised for clients along with £177k in debt resolution. Seventy-seven clients were further helped following the closure of the 2 sisters factory in Llangefni after initial on site support was provided when all affected employees were offered an interview.

Demand for the services of Môn Citizens Advice continues to grow leading to waiting times and challenges as regards resolving issues within timescales. The rising cost of living and energy costs means that more people are finding it difficult to meet basic needs placing them at increased risk of poverty and debt. More people are also accessing the service for legal advice because they cannot obtain legal aid or afford legal representation. Despite the challenges, Môn Citizens Advice will continue to work with partners to provide support and to share information about how best to help those most in need.

The following were points of discussion by the committee –

·      The staffing capacity of Môn Citizens Advice to be able to meet the requests for support

·      Areas where collaboration with the Isle of Anglesey County Council and others could improve

·      Whether Môn Citizens Advice has seen any major changes in the post Covid period

·      The ways in which the Council might be able to help Môn Citizens Advice achieve more especially in terms of securing funding. Members asked for clarification of the funding position.

In response to the issues raised, the representatives of Môn Citizens Advice advised as follows –

·      That there is a currently waiting list for support from Môn Citizens Advice; the length of the wait depends on the project/issue but is on average 2 to 3 weeks with energy related issues being the shortest. The period leading up to Christmas is historically busy and is expected to be especially so this year due to the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance. While the organisation will respond to people seeking its help, it will be a challenge. Additional funding would enable Môn Citizens Advice to employ more advisors.

·      That Môn Citizens Advice has been part of successful collaboration with the Council based on close and regular contact with an example being in housing and specifically an energy improvement project in a village on the Island. Establishing regular contact with all the Council’s services would facilitate collaboration.

·      That the post Covid period saw the resumption of face-to-face contact as well as a significant increase in the demand for Môn Citizens Advice services. The Covid pandemic also brought a change in the way contact is made and has enabled the organisation to access more people through channels that better suits them. Cases have also become more complex and can sometimes take a long time and the input of multiple specialists to resolve.

·      That finances are likely to be challenging going forward as more people seek the organisation’s help. Collaboration has been a key part of the most successful projects along with working together in a holistic way. Should the Council become aware of the availability of additional funding it might consider inviting Môn Citizens Advice to be part of it. Replacing funding streams that are coming to an end is a challenge and a concern particularly with regard to outreach and legal work some of which is being funded from reserves.

The Chief Executive highlighted that collaboration is among the Council’s core values and is an area that is constantly evolving. The Council’s Tackling Poverty Strategic Plan is a Council wide document which is underpinned by structures which bring services together. It incorporates a cost-of-living dashboard which provides at a glance real time information about the cost-of-living position and enables any trends to be identified and analysed. The Council deems it important that decisions with regard to tackling poverty are data driven and informed. He thanked Môn Citizens Advice both for their presentation and as an important partner of the Council, and he hoped that the meeting had given members assurance that the Council is collaborating effectively in order to tackle poverty and to improve outcomes for the Island’s residents.

The Committee thanked the Cara Jones and Danielle Owen from Môn Citizens Advice their time and presentation and for the organisation’s valuable work in providing advice and support for Anglesey’s residents.

There were no additional actions.